[Profile] 'Former Judge' Odongun, Candidate for Head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials: "Committed to Eradicating Corruption Crimes"

Evaluation of 'Rational' Task Handling... Public Investigation Office Forms Hearing Preparation Team with 4 Teams

President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 26th nominated lawyer Oh Dong-woon (53, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 27), a former judge, as the candidate for the 2nd Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HOCIU).

Odongwoon, Candidate for Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Candidate Oh is from Sancheong, Gyeongnam, graduated from Nakdong High School and Seoul National University with a degree in German Language and Literature. He passed the bar exam in 1995, completed the Judicial Research and Training Institute in 1998, and began his judicial career as a probationary judge at the Busan District Court.

He served at the Ulsan District Court, Incheon District Court, Seoul Southern District Court, and Seoul Central District Court. In 2009, he was appointed as a judge in the Seoul High Court’s special division for corruption cases. In 2010, he was dispatched as a researcher to the Constitutional Court. Afterwards, he worked as a chief judge at the Ulsan District Court and Suwon District Court Seongnam Branch before retiring in 2017 and joining the law firm Geumseong.

Candidate Oh is evaluated as highly competent in his work, handling tasks rationally without strongly revealing his personal inclinations.

Following former HOCIU Chief Kim Jin-wook, also a former judge, the nomination of another judge as head of the HOCIU suggests that controversies over investigative command are likely to continue. Ultimately, the appointment of a deputy chief to assist the chief and lead frontline investigation teams will be crucial.

Candidate Oh stated, "I feel a heavy responsibility being nominated as the chief candidate at a time when the HOCIU faces many difficulties. Although the HOCIU was established with the public’s strong desire and expectation to eradicate corruption among high-ranking officials, I am well aware that it has not fully met those expectations over the past three years."

He added, "I will deeply consider ways for the HOCIU to fulfill its responsibilities and roles as a truly independent investigative agency that checks power institutions and eradicates corruption crimes, thereby earning the trust of the people."

The HOCIU has formed a preparation team for the confirmation hearing and begun support work. The team leader is Lee Hyung-seok, Planning and Coordination Officer, and it is composed of four teams: National Assembly, Personal Background, Media, and Administration.

▲ Sancheong, Gyeongnam (53) ▲ Nakdong High School ▲ Seoul National University, German Language and Literature ▲ Passed Bar Exam (Judicial Research and Training Institute class 27) ▲ Judge at Ulsan District Court ▲ Judge at Incheon District Court ▲ Judge at Seoul Southern District Court ▲ Judge at Seoul Central District Court ▲ Judge at Seoul High Court ▲ Chief Judge at Ulsan District Court ▲ Chief Judge at Suwon District Court Seongnam Branch ▲ Lawyer at Law Firm Geumseong